The Warrior Is Silent: Martial Arts and the Spiritual Path (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shaw, the only American ever to be promoted to the rank of Black Belt in the Korean martial art of Hapkido by the Korea Hapkido Foundation, explores the spiritual discipline that is the foundation of martial arts practice. Shaw contends that martial arts is a method of "understanding and interacting with the unceasing energy of the universe, known as ki." Through a series of stages of meditation and practice, the martial artist is able to attain oneness with ki as well as to attain the status of an enlightened being who is "at war with no one." Shaw traces the historical development of the martial arts through their various incarnations in Japan, China and Korea. His historical scheme is especially valuable for its examination of the intersection of spiritual and martial arts disciplines in ancient China, Japan and Korea. Shaw then recommends practices that will help martial artists develop a mind awakened to the interaction of the physical and non-physical worlds, as well as techniques of meditation that enable the martial artist to understand ki and form a "conscious link between mind, body, and the spiritual energy of the universe." Shaw also includes techniques for refining the physical disciplines of the martial arts. Accompanying illustrations depict the various spiritual and physical techniques that Shaw recommends. Shaw's manual is an easy-to-read introduction to recognizing and developing the spiritual depth of the martial arts.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Shaw's manual is an easy-to-read introduction to recognizing and developing the spiritual depth of the martial arts. -- Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions; 1st Ed edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892816686
• ISBN-13: 978-0892816682
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #692,049 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Like Sand Between the Fingers, January 30, 2002

By	Corey H. Wiscomb (Orcas Island, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For those that know their martial art history, the beginning chapter of this book is shady. Most of the information is true, but some of the printed material is speculative and not labeled as such.

The mixing and mingling of feminine and masculine pronouns assigned to 'the warrior' throughout the text made the reading...inconsistent and strangely difficult. There is no doubt that both men and women are/can be warriors, and I think the writing would have been more fluent if Shaw had just made that point, chose one pronoun, and stuck to it.

Shaw displays his opinions upon the spiritual path to the martial arts very well, but I think that he forgot to stay open to the idea that there is more than one way to skin a cat. When reading this book it sounds as if you are doing everything wrong if not following the path he is documenting, and I strongly disagree. To put it more poetically, "There are many paths up the mountain, but only one peak".

Sprirituality is a difficult subject to write about. It is like sand - when a person tries to take hold of it in a physical manner it simply slips through the fist. I bought this book looking for a truly spiritual text, and was disappointed to find yet another picture filled manual on the martial arts. Shaw's effort is to be commended, but I'm affraid that in his attempt to convey something very esoteric the sand slipped between his fingers.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book - A One Stop Shop, February 5, 2002

By	Sensei Budo "senseibudo" (Santa Monica, California) - See all my reviews

The is really a great book. It begins by detailing a factual history of the ancient martial arts and their interaction with Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. It then goes on to outline numerous meditation and Ki development exercises. It even throws in a few self defense techniques, just to show how the "Spiritual Warrior" can learn to consciously defend "Him" or "Her" self. This text provides the reader with not only a new and deeper understanding of the physical aspects of the martial arts but a complete how to for Ki development and the various forms of Buddhist meditation which have been developed for and associated with the martial arts over the centuries. I used this book as one of the references for my Master's Thesis.

While doing my Thesis I contacted Master Shaw. He was so nice and talked to me indepth about meditation and how it can become a natural evolution of the martial arts. He possesses a vast amount of knowledge on this subject, which is apparent in this book. I believe this book truly adds a new chapter to the martial arts.

One of the things I like most about this book is that it does not solely reference the martial artist, or "Spiritual Warrior" as Scott Shaw details all of us to be as, "He" or "Him." It also intermingles "She" or "Her" with this delineation. When speaking to Master Shaw he told me that this was not his idea, nor was it the way he had written the book. It was something done by the editors. None the less, I think this interchangable style is great. It acknowledges and gives power to us ladies, something most books on the martial arts never do.

Overall, I believe this to be an important work on breaking down the barriers of the traditional macho male dominated martial arts and taking them to the level where they can be embraced by the more spiritually inclined among us.

Your one stop shop...

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Spiritually Minded, May 22, 2002

By	"suzuki2" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

I actually read the comments from the other readers before purchasing this book myself and the "he" / "she" reference which most of the reviewers mentioned didn't really get in the way of the content of the book itself. (Who knows, that may not have been the writer, but rather the publishing company, like so many other typos in books). I liked the way Scott Shaw intermingles spirituality with the martial arts; it reminds you of how the old Chinese practitioners see the martial arts - as an art and not just for fighting. I learned interesting tid-bits from this book and recommend it for anyone who is spiritually-minded.